I'm entering my 3rd week of being "back in the saddle" and I must say I'm impressed with myself.  I've been consistent.  I've been working hard.  And I've been keeping a balance; still living life,  yet being healthy when I can (my ultimate goal).    Then I remember: ahh yes, the honeymoon.  Just as in a romantic relationship, the beginning of a new fitness resolve has always been, for me, a time where the lifestyle romances me.  Wines and dines me with adrenaline and self-pride.  Gets me drunk off kisses that promise a new, "better" body.   Adorns me with all the praise of my friends, family  and colleagues.  "You're my hero," gushes one co-worker after she realizes I have spent every single morning that work week at the gym before coming in.   Another calls me a rock star.  I think to myself, "Damn, it feels good to be a gangsta" (a clear sign that there is obviously too much hip hop on my work out play list).

But wait.  This smells familiar.  Too familiar.  I've been here before, and I know it doesn't last.  When it becomes old news that Jo goes to the gym in the morning and the compliments fade and the adrenaline is replaced by anger because the pounds are not falling off as they feel they should be considering my hard work...then what?  I know what.  I get so frustrated and angry with myself that I stop.  I begin to feel this is not going according to plan.  It is not giving me perfection and aren't I seeking perfection?  I begin to flounder.  I feel don't know what to do at the gym any more.  Everything seems to have been done.  And done too many times to be effective or semi-entertaining.  The "I'm-so-over-it" mentality sets in and it all seems pointless after one too many weekends offer beer and cheese fries.  What's the point anymore? 

STOP.  Hammer time?  Wait, no, not now Jo.  Let’s be serious for a moment (or as a friend would say "lettuce be cereal" ha). How can I prevent this from happening again?  There must be a way.  So I do what I do best: I make a list.  A list of all the ways to keep myself, so when the honeymoon begins to fade, I have reinforcements to keep me going.  Not to say that there aren't going to be times where it will suck no matter what; where I will second guess the worth of working out; where I think of resigning to living like most Americans (sedimentary and overweight) I mean they do it, why can't I?!   

So, trumpets please, here is my list.  The list that will keep me going when I think I can't:

-Subscribe to Spotify.  Spotify allows you to stream almost any music you want for free and create playlists etc for FREE.  However, if you pay for a subscription, you can access all your playlists via your phone without internet.  For me this is better than an Ipod bc i dont have time to download.  Nor do I want to pay .99cents a freakin’ song. 

-With said subscription make various workout playlists.  Update them often.  Music speaks to me, and therefore I know I can find playlists that will say, "get the hell up", "keep going" and/ or "you ARE strong". 

-Start a workout fund.  I must credit Pinterest with this one.  There was a pin that said to put a dollar in a jar every time you work out.  Not only do you get a visual of all the hard work you are doing, but once you reach a substantial amount, you use it to treat yourself.  I see a mani/pedi in my near future.

-Make an inspiration board...and USE it.  When I was dieting...er starving...for my wedding I had this board I made with super skinny people and hot bodies.  I hung it on the fridge.  It worked insofar that it made me re-think what I was going to eat.  However, it also was emotionally damaging when I didn't end up looking like the air-brushed-personally-trained-and-cooked-for-models.  This time, my board will consist of works of encouragement and positive messages or pictures. 

-With said inspiration board, find a few people who inspire you to be healthy and get 'em on there.  Is it your kids?  Is it Jillian Michaels?  Personally I don’t have kids and I hate that Jillian Michaels bitch.  But whatever, it's got to work for you.  For me, I'm finding pictures of strong, healthy, SMART woman.  Katniss from The Hunger Games (sorry, OBSESSED), my good friend who does weight lifting at Cross Fit, Tosca Reno, Cameron Diaz.  I want to feel STRONG, not just skinny.  Because even if I got super skinny, it's not a lifestyle I could maintain forever and I'm now in this for the long run.

-Treat myself to a massage once a month.  This one is going to be hard to stick to because I am quite budget friendly and adding another $60 a month expense is a big expense in my eyes.  But I think it will be worth it.  It will help me feel better.  It will make it ok when work until I am sore.  It will be the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. 

-Lastly, take a lesson from yoga: find your intention and be present with it.  Yoga has been a big part of my life in the last year.  It's a type of exercise that doesn't demand perfection, doesn’t judge and allows you to spiritually connect with yourself while also giving your body the exercise it needs.  In yoga you learn to start your practice with an intention.  Is it to exercise? To relieve stress? To gain flexibility?  To quiet your mind?  Whatever it is, you choose one and try to keep it at the forefront of your mind for the duration of your practice session.  I want to translate that to my workouts. Take a moment before I begin, close my eyes and think of why I am here and what I want to get out of this workout.  This will also (hopefully) help me to keep my workouts focused on being healthy and not skinny (my classic pit fall). 

So here it goes!  Let's see how well this list works.  I'll keep ya'll (haha a New Yorker said ya'll) posted.  In the mean time, do any of you have your own methods of motivation that might be worthy of adding to my list?!?

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